Manna Dey Dadasaheb Phalke award winning singer. Review on Manna Dey

The Dadasaheb Phalke Award(named after the founding father of Indian cinema) is the highest award to be won by anyone from the film fraternity. For this year, the Govt. of India’s jury has announced that the recipient of this distinguished award is none other legendary playback singer Manna Dey.In fact, this recognition is something Manna Dey should have won 20 years back, but better late than never.

Manna Dey is one of the great singers who has sung innumerable golden songs for Hindi movies. Manna Dey unfortunately did not get the same fame and accolades as Rafi and Kishore received. Mannada was no less a great singer than Rafi and Kishore, but unfortunately, their towering presence dwarfed Manna’s career. But this doesn’t mean Manna Dey wasn’t a great singer and didn’t get good songs. He in fact has sung some of the great songs not only in Hindi movies, but also in Bengali and other langues. He has sung one song in a Kannada movie (Satyameva Jayate), which is still remembered with affection by all Kannadigas. It is a matter of pride for all Bangaloreans that Manna Dey has made his home in Bangalore.

The 90 year old Manna Dey still leads an active life attending programs and concerts and does sing a line or two. Born on May Day in 1919, Manna Dey first worked as an assistant music director under his uncle Kishore Chandra Dey and worked later under Sachin Dev Burman. He started his singing career in 1943 in the movie Tamanna, by singing a duet with Suraiyya. Since then, there was no looking back and Manna Dey sung thousands of songs for different music directors. But unfortunately, he was never the first choice and sung lesser songs compared to Rafi, Kishore and Mukesh. A very interesting point here is that Manna Dey has sung atleast one song in all of Raj Kapoor’s movies. For those who thought that only Mukesh sung for RK, Manna Dey was the only other singer whom RK allowed to sing for him, which itself is an achievement.

Manna Dey has won many state and national awards including the National film award, Lata Mangeshkar award, Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan. But he has never won the Filmfare award- the loss is of course Filmfare’s not Manna Dey’s. It will be a great moment for Hindi film music when Manna Dey steps on the stage a few weeks from now to receive the Dada Saheb Phalke award from the President of India. Here’s wishing Manna Dey a hundredth birthday to come.

On the occasion of this good news, I would like to share a few of my favourite Manna Dey songs:

1. Zindagi Kaisi Hai Paheli from Anand is my favourite Manna Dey song. The beauty of the lyrics and the music of the genius Salil Chowdhury makes this song memorable. In fact, after listening to this song, the then superstar Rajesh Khanna demanded that the song be picturised on him! https://youtube.com/watch?v=29P6tmF7ddQ

   
   




2. Pyar Hua Ikrar Hua from Shree 420is one of the most famous songs in Hindi film music. Picturised on Raj Kapoor and Nargis, this is a duet sung by Lata and Manna. https://youtube.com/watch?v=AEo3_VGQjho

   
   




3. Yeh Raat Bheegi Bheegi from Chori Choriis one of the most beautiful duets in Hindi films. Sung by Lata and Manna for music director Shankar-Jaikishan, Manna’s voice is a perfect fit for RK. https://youtube.com/watch?v=0bDO1Nhj-Jo

   
   




4. Aye Bhai Zara Dekh Ke Chalo from Mera Naam Jokeris one of the finest songs sung by Manna. The pathos in the voice, the meaningful lyrics, great music and the situation in the film makes it a memorable song and one of Manna Dey’s most famous songs. https://youtube.com/watch?v=fLe8LA2doks

   
   




5. Ek Chatur Naar Karke Singar from Padosanis the most famous comedy songs. If anyone could do justice to the classical parts of this song, it is only Manna Dey. As you listen to the song, you realise how Manna is able to match Kishoreda line for line and tune for tune. A great song composed by R D Burman. https://youtube.com/watch?v=9HwrMGpFaik

   
   




6. Kaun Aya Mere Man Ke Dwarefrom Dekh Kabira Royais another classical great by Manna. The emotion in the voice makes it sound like a bhajan. This song has music by Madan Mohan. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Xs7tY9WqMjo

   
   




7. Aye Mere Pyare Watan from Kabuliwalais a great patriotic song sung with immense feeling. Interestingly, in the movie the song is sung a man pining for his home in Afghanistan. But the beauty of Sali Chowdhury‘s music and Manna’s voice makes it a patriotic song for all Indians. https://youtube.com/watch?v=FHO2hsXCfQo

   
   




8. Chunari Sambhal Gori Udi Chale Jaya Re from Baharon Ke Sapneis an amazing fast song sung by Lata and Manna. Such a song would have been usually sung by Kishore, but surprisingly R D Burman gave the song to Manna, who has done a tremendous job. https://youtube.com/watch?v=whRdPY7HS_c

   
   




9. Yaari Hain Imaan Mera from Zanjeer is another super hit song sung by Manna Dey. This Kalyanji-Anandji song picturised on Pran is remembered even today. https://youtube.com/watch?v=UkpPfqzXYkA

   
   




10. Laga Chunari Me Daag from Dil Hi To Hain is a great semi-classical number with music by Roshan. Manna Dey has a special place for this song on his favourite list. https://youtube.com/watch?v=Efh7sCK6njA

    
    

There are of course numerous other hits, but this is a small list with some of my favourites. Please do share your favourite Manna Dey songs.